A Minimal Home in Venice Beach, California.

It was just over a year ago that I stopped over in Santa Monica, Los Angeles  for a few days on my way to Italy. I stayed with my architect friend, Stephanie who was a great host and showed me around her cool little neighbourhood.
One night we had dinner with a fellow architect friend of hers, Don Dimester and his wife Lisa, who invited us back to their Venice Beach home that evening -  and it was this place that you see here. I was excited to see it again when it was recently featured in Dwell magazine and to be reminded of my visit there.
Don designed this duplex for himself and his brother, Dennis (who I also met and asked me to keep talking so he could laugh at my accent). Read the article here to hear Don's story and how this unique home came about.

A dramatic stairwell going up the roof deck

Large rolling doors are used to open or close off spaces

Dennis' kitchen with sliding doors

The communal roof deck

 

Photographs by Eric Staudenmaier via Dwell.

New Work - Residential Furnishings

Here I am finally getting around to taking some photos of recent work! This residence has been an on-going collaboration with Minty Architecture and Design, ie. my architect sister. We have worked with these clients over several years through different design and building stages - it has been great seeing how this home has progressed. Earlier this year, I worked with the clients on their furnishings for the dining and living areas - here are the results.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Hotel SP34, Copenhagen

A friend of mine and her family are travelling to Europe next week to visit Berlin and Copenhagen. So naturally I thought of her when I saw this stylish boutique hotel, SP34 on Remodelista this morning.
Recently renovated by architect/designer Morten Hedegaard, the SP34 re-opened to the public in April this year and is located in Copenhagen's Latin Quarter. I like the simple but cosy interiors and it is the details that make it unique. Look at the individual bed head boards, the leather cushions to lean back on, the stylish mid century furniture and unique lighting. Right, adding this to the bucket list...

Photographs by Brochner Hotels via Remodelista.

United Nations' North Delegates Lounge in New York

 

This fantastic space is the North Delegates' Lounge at the United Nations building based in New York - and it was recently renovated by architect Rem Koolhaas and Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. Along with a team of Dutch creatives, Koolhaas and Jongerius aimed to create a space of both comfort and professional informality. The history of the space was carefully edited by the team and the existing mezzanine was removed to open up the view to the East river. Jongerius created the bead curtain from hand knotted yarn and 30,000 porcelain beads. I think the space looks great - read more about the project here.

 



Photographs by Frank Oudeman via Dezeen.

Modern Melbourne Home

Robson Rak Architects is fast becoming another Australian architecture firm that I am regularly admiring (see this previous post of another stunning Melbourne house they worked on).
This time, they collaborated on this residential renovation and extension with interior designer, Susie Cohen of Made by Cohen. This modern home is in the line up for Houses Award 2014 and was in the  Residential Design short list for Australian Interior Design Awards 2014. It is not hard to see why. Read and see more here.

Photographs by Shannon McGrath via yellowtrace.

Modernist Beach Home

We have been having lovely, sunny and calm Wellington weather at the start of our winter season, so it doesn't feel so bad to share this modernist beach home from Sydney, rather than a cosy cabin today. It's no surprise that this home is so stylish as it is the home of interior stylist and buyer, Karen Kelly Tarasin and her family - and it has made the cover of the latest Inside Out magazine. I like the warmth of the timber, vintage Danish furniture and shots of blue throughout. Read more here.

Photographs by Prue Ruscoe via Homelife.